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Story summary
- The origins debate intensified after Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the cowboy archetype originated in Spain.
- New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez countered, highlighting Mexicans and African Americans' contributions to the tradition.
- Experts say Spanish and Portuguese influences brought cattle and horses, but Mexican vaqueros shaped the core tradition.
- The narrative remains complex, incorporating Indigenous tribes and challenging simplistic media portrayals.
